懂中文 Dong Chinese

但

dàn

only

Original meaning: 

bare-chested

Phonosemantic compound. 亻 represents the meaning and 旦 represents the sound. Based on the original meaning "bare-chested". The current meaning is a phonetic loan.

Components
亻 meaning component

亻  Meaning component

rén

  

person

亻 is a component form of 人.

旦 sound component

旦  Sound component

dàn

  

dawn

Evolution

但 Oracle script (~1250-1000 BC)

Oracle script

(~1250-1000 BC)
但 Bronze script Late Warring States (~250 BC)

Bronze script

Late Warring States (~250 BC)
但 Seal script Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal script

Shuowen (~100 AD)
但 Clerical script Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical script

Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
但 Regular script Modern

Regular script

Modern
Definitions

但  

dàn

only; but, however, yet, still; but; yet; however; merely; still

Most common words with 但
Freq.
Word
Meaning

但

but

但是

but

不但

not only (... but also...)

但愿

I wish (that)

非但

not only